To maintain a healthy weight, how much you eat is just as important as what you eat, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your optimal portion size may or may not match the serving size listed on a product. It’s dependent on your age, weight and metabolism, among other factors.…  read on >

Planning for your children’s return to school this fall should include thinking about how to pack healthy lunches that they’ll enjoy. Try to include children in the process of creating their lunches, including buying food and packing (or helping pack) their lunches. This lets them make their own choices and helps them learn about nutrition,…  read on >

Your dog bounds heedlessly into a local lake or pond, playfully splashing in the water. But within minutes, your canine companion is staggering, drooling or suffering seizures. Left untreated, the dog will likely die. This fate has befallen a handful of pooches exposed to toxic algae blooms this year, experts say. “Blue-green algae is a…  read on >

Dairy foods have been getting a lot of attention from researchers in recent years, notably from studies done both jointly and separately by scientists at Harvard and Tufts universities. They looked at the relationship between full-fat dairy and the risks for heart disease and diabetes. A 3,000-participant study found that people who included dairy fat…  read on >

Folks taking opioids for chronic pain may run into trouble if they need to find a new doctor. A new “secret shopper” survey of 194 Michigan primary care clinics found that as many as four out of 10 primary care doctors would turn away patients who have been taking the pain-killing medications (such as Percocet)…  read on >

If you’re a chili pepper lover who can take the heat, then take it to the next level with super spicy habaneros. Habaneros aren’t for the faint of heart. They rank among some of the world’s hottest chilies on the Scoville scale, which is used to measure the heat of all types of peppers. Habaneros…  read on >

Many Americans still don’t get enough fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. If money and time are concerns, your favorite drive-through donut and coffee place in the morning and the closest fast-food chain for dinner might seem to better fit your schedule and budget, even if you know these foods aren’t nutritious. You may feel…  read on >

Many alternative milk products are available on supermarket shelves, including milks made from soy, rice, almond, coconut and oats. These products may not have the same nutritional value as dairy milk, says the Dairy Council of California. Alternative milk products may be low in calcium and protein. For children, athletes and seniors looking to up…  read on >